Will the public take to the idea of having significant input on what the towers opposite city hall might look like at the ground level?

By Pepper Parr

November 3rd, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON’

What are the issues for this new council going to be?

We know what the developer wants to build; shovels will go into the ground just as soon as the building permit is issued.

There are some, downtowners for the most part, who wonder if the Carriage Gate development, that has now been named The Gallery is really a done deal. We were asked: “Is there nothing that can be done to stop that development?”

Sales office is open.

Has a building permit been issued?

If not then city council can, if they choose to – un-delegated the authority on this project that they gave the Director of Planning.

That has been done before.

There was a project that then Director of Planning Bruce Krushelnicki asked city council to take back from him- and he was duly un-delegated.

The project was given back to Krushelnicki later.

The point is that city council can un-delegate and this might be one of those projects that should be treated this way.

We asked Mayor Elect Marianne Meed Ward:

Would you consider un-delegating the authority the Director of Planning has over that project and bringing it back to council where they will manage the project?

Meed Ward responded with:

“City council by majority vote can un-delegate the site plan from staff back to council for a final decision.

“This does not stop the project or slow it down.

“It allows council and community input into site plan details (including layout, entrances, landscaping and so forth).

“I’m open to un-delegating the site plan.”